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**Chris Scott** · #1 25 Apr 2018

Well not new to some I’m sure, but a fun way to get over the High Atlas if you’ve done the Tizi n Test too many times, and with some interesting optional deviations.

Click for route description and pics.
Kml below.
New map Dec 2022

**TheWarden** · #2 25 Apr 2018

Great route Chris! If you fork left where you say fork right it takes you across to what I refer to as the Moroccan Pikes Peak, Tarmac from roughly the 2500m contour down to the Aoulouz/Aguim Road.

There another piste between this and the New Road arrow that I’ll probably try in a few weeks

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Chris Scott** · #3 25 Apr 2018

Good to know, thanks. I've updated the map and try it next time I'm out there on my Hyperstrada ;-)
Let us know with the other piste.

**Chris Scott** · #4 9 Oct 2021

Another variation to this route which bypasses the steep, 500m-in-8km climb over Tizi n Oulaoune.
This improved piste is only 12km and doable in any vehicle.
It's nearly all there on the Garmin Topo map; OSM probably too.

More here: https://sahara-overland.com/2018/04/...ew-route-mh20/

See new map two posts below

**normaligator** · #5 7 Aug 2022

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

Now sealed from the Ouenine basin over to Igli and a great high mountain road.
Carry on to Taliouine (170km) via Askaoun and you'll get more bends Jaques Cousteau.

Hello Chris,

I'm a bit confused and maybe you can help me. I was wondering if the MH21 'Pikes Peak' from this post is the same then the MH21 'Cirque de Jaffar' from your book (p.105).
I can't quite figure it out, the description and location just don't match up. Are there two different MH21's ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards,
Kevin

**Chris Scott** · #6 10 Aug 2022

Hi Kevin.

I spotted the mistake a while back and in future will call MH21 Jaffar MH2.2

.
I updated the post-publication new routes page:
https://sahara-overland.com/2018/04/...ew-route-mh20/

MH20 in red
Ijoukak > Oulaoune pass - Oueinine basin - Ouaougdimt valley - Aoulouz

MH21 mostly blue
Ijoukak > new bypass > high route > dam wall > askaoun > Taluouine

MH212 green
9km link track from 'map junction' on MH20 to new bypass junction on MH21.

**Chris Scott** · #7 11 Mar 2024

As mentioned elsewhere, the start of the steep, 8km climb up from 'Ijoukak valley' up to Tizi n Oulaoune High Atlas watershed (MH20) is immediately blocked with earthquake debris (below). A light bike will get past, but who knows what lies beyond.

The way round to Ouneine would be to carry on along the MH21 bypass up to just before the junction with the Ouneine-Igli high road, then do the 'MH212' link track to 'Map Junction' and follow the less steep southern part of MH20 down to the Ouneine basin.

Won't get a chance to check myself, but would be good to know if these are still passable if anyone's in the area.

**TheWarden** · #8 11 Mar 2024

Thanks for that Chris, I'm up that way next month and will have a look at the detour possibly

**TheWarden** · #9 18 Apr 2024

Still blocked today but looks like bikes are using it with some well defined tyre tracks.

The detour is spectacular though, wide well graded piste lots of quake damage along the way. Camped up at the top tonight and it’s bloody freezing. Forecast to drop even colder over the next 10days. And we’re heading up another 1000m

**Chris Scott** · #10 18 Apr 2024

Thanks, I actually meant the green 9km link route which would be a way round the blocked pass.

**TheWarden** · #11 19 Apr 2024

We came Ijoukak so the only was around the blockage was to carry on east. We then doubled back on the link track to a nice camp spot. We didn’t go all the way to the junction but there no problems on the bit we did.